With our new comp picks Anderson, Musgrove, Smith Jr, and Comer, as well as last year's Wojo, Syndergaard, and Sanchez, there is plenty of hope for the future in T.O.  I was curious as to how the Jays have done in the past with supplemental round picks from the June drafts, and did a little bit of research.  I actually did the research a while ago, but it was during my December exams and I never posted them - then got a virus and lost all my data.  So, here goes: The Blue Jays' history of success or otherwise with comp picks.  I'll also list other notable players drafted by the Jays (which I consider to be minimum 7 WAR, or in some cases, current major leaguers)

This does not include picks received from other teams as compensation for free agent signings.

1989

OF Brent Bowers, our first ever supplemental pick, was drafted between rounds 2 and 3 out of high school.  Played 21 games, hit .308 in 39 AB, OPS of .667, no homers, 0.3 WAR.  Notable players from this draft include John Olerud (4th round, 56.8 WAR) Jeffrey Hammonds (9th round, 9.9 WAR) and Jeff Kent (20th round, 59.4 WAR).

1990

1B Tim Byers was drafted between the 2nd and 3rd rounds out of high school.  Played 133 games, hit .217 in 230 ABs, OPS of .585, 2 homers, -1.4 WAR.  Notable players: Steve Karsay (1st round, 9.9 WAR).

1991 - two picks

RHP Jeff Ware was drafted between rounds 1 and 2 out of college.  Went 3-6 with a 7.43 ERA and a 1.95 WHIP in 18 appearances.  WAR of -0.7.  SS Dante Powell was drafted 7 picks later out of high school.  Got into 70 games, hit .270 in 74 ABs, OPS of .755, 2 homers, -0.2 WAR.  Notable players: Shawn Green (1st round, 29.4 WAR), Alex Gonzalez (13th round, 7.4 WAR), Ryan Franklin (25th round, 11.7 WAR).

1992

SS Brandon Cromer was drafted between the first two rounds out of high school and never made the majors.  Notable player: Shannon Stewart. (1st round, 19.8 WAR)

1993 - three picks

OF Matt Farner and RHP Jeremy Lee, both taken between the first two rounds out of high school, failed to make the majors.  LHP Mark Lukasiewicz, drafted out of junior college, got into 41 games, with a 2-2 record, a 5.20 ERA, and a 1.29 WHIP, and a WAR of -0.2.

1994, 1995 - no picks

1996

1B Pete Tucci was drafted between the first two rounds out of college and never made the majors.  Notables include Casey Blake (7th round, 23.2 WAR), Orlando Hudson (33rd round, 20.8 WAR) and only because I really liked watching him pitch, 1st rounder Billy Koch, who posted a 6.0 WAR.

1997 - no picks - this was the year we took Vernon Wells in the first round, Micheal Young in the fifth, and the O-Dog (again) in the 43rd round.

1998 - no supplemental picks

1999 - no supplemental picks, but we picked up some dude named Rios (who was a 3B at the time), Brandon Lyon, and Reed Johnson.

2000

Everyone's favourite shoulder problem Dustin McGowan was picked up between the first two rounds.  In his career, McGowan is 20-22 with a 4.71 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP, good for 1.7 WAR.  So far the most WAR by a Blue Jays draft pick in that year.

2001 - nobody of interest

2002 - same, unless you hate Russ Adams.

2003 - no supplemental picks... but our first three picks look like a crap sandwich on good bread - the top slice is Aaron Hill, the bottom slice Shaun Marcum.  The crap in the middle?  Josh Banks.

2004 - LHP Zach Jackson was taken in between the first two rounds out of college.  22 major league games, went 4-5 with a 5.81 ERA and a 1.57 WHIP.  -0.7 WAR.  Worse than 16th overall pick David Purcey.  Worse than 2nd rounder Curtis Thigpen.  But we got Adam Lind, Casey Janssen, and Jesse Litsch that year as well, so it evens out.

2005 , 2006 - nothing

2007 - Brett Cecil, Trystan Magnuson, and Justin Jackson were all taken between the first two rounds - Jackson out out high school, the others from college.  I don't think Cecil and Magnuson (now with Oakland) are finished with their major league careers, but Jackson has some work to do to get there.  Cecil has a 1.8 WAR, Magnuson a -0.2.  We also drafted J.P. Arencibia, Brad Mills, Marc Rzepcynski, Rule 5er Brad Emaus, and Darin Mastroianni.  

2009 - we took James Paxton, but he never signed.

Last year - Sanchez, Syndergaard, and Wojo were all taken between the first two rounds - Wojo from college, the others from high school.  Kellen Sweeney was taken between rounds two and three out of high school, and Marcus Knecht from junior college.  Haven't seen too much from most of these guys due to most of them coming from high school, but Knecht has been raking so far.

Not including this year's guys (because they haven't signed yet - so that means Paxton's out as well), here's a few numbers:

Total picks: 19.  9 pitchers, 10 position players.  10 from high school, 7 from college, 2 from junior college.

Total WAR:  1.0.  McGowan and Cecil have been 3.5 WAR combined.  Not so good for the rest of the players...

In short, we have had little success so far with supplemental draft picks.  For me, this serves to reinforce the fact that the draft is really a crapshoot.  Either your luck is there, or it isn't.  I'm hopeful that the guys we took last year and this year, as well as Brett Cecil, can break the trend and be a productive player for the Blue Jays taken in the supplemental rounds of the draft.

Title from Rise Against's new album Endgame.

Boston holds our first round draft selection, this is common knowledge.   But to sweeten our side of that particular deal, we can finish as high as possible to lower that draft pick.  We've accomplished what I'll call Step One: getting it out of the Top 5, thereby avoiding the lottery.  As of right now, we're sitting five points clear of the 26th place Florida Panthers after their 3-2 win over Chicago and our OT loss to the Islanders. 

But for the sake of progress, how can we get it out of the Top 10?  Can this team avoid that altogether and bump Boston down to the 11-15 hole?  Potentially.  But it's not likely.  And not for entirely pessimistic reasons, either.

Glancing at the standings, where we currently stand at 22nd due to St. Louis being idle last night, Boston holds the 9th pick in the draft.  We sit two points behind Columbus in 21st and three behind Carolina in 20th.  Assuming we are able to vault over those teams, Boston holds the 11th pick.  And that's as far as it goes.  The reason for that is Buffalo, who is 8th in the East, sits in 19th.  We beat them, that pick becomes at its highest 14th.  So that eliminates 12 and 13 entirely.

So then we make it to the playoffs, and we play a top seed, likely one of Philly, Tampa, Pittsburgh, Washington, or Boston.  They're good teams.  Fantastic teams.  Did good in the regular season and are top in the East for a reason.

Newsflash: I don't care.

They call it the post-season for a reason.  The season doesn't matter anymore.  This would no longer be that team that had a hellhole of a month earlier.  This would be the 2011 PLAYOFF Toronto Maple Leafs.  Last year Philly was a 7th seed, Montreal an 8th.  Edmonton went almost all the way in 2006 as an 8th seed.  It can be done.  And the way this team has been winning close games and grinding out the ugly points when they have to, I feel that this team is one that can make such a run.  I've seen bigger upsets than these Leafs knocking off Philly and I haven't hit my 20s yet.

What would it take to get there?  The suggestion seems to be somewhere between 88-90 points.  We get to 88 with 10 wins in our final 15 games.  11 gets us to 90.  The focus needs to be on taking what we can get.  If that means grinding out a close tie and getting a point just by making it to the extra frame, that's a start.  Unfortunately, getting badly outshot by the Islanders isn't a good way to be going about a playoff run.  Not that I'm an expert or anything.

I don't know what's gonna happen with this playoff run.  Will James Reimer break down?  Will Keith Aulie suddenly become an offensive monster?  Will Phil Kessel fire it up and ride a hot streak to the end or will he spurt and die slowly?  Can Mikhail Grabovski get back to being the Mikhail Grabovski who was carrying our team through that terrible month? I don't know.  I do know that I'm cheering this team to go all the way.  They're exciting to watch, and even if they don't make it, I'll be happy with the way things have turned out.

Let the games begin. 

After the Encarnacion signing, AA has a lot of options as to filling out the rest of his roster.  3B remains the key issue, but we can also consider 1B, DH, and LF/RF as 'open.'  AA has said he won't build using free agency, however, leaving a route closed is hardly profitable or reasonable.  So using a handy tool known as a free agent tracker, compiled by Yahoo!'s Jeff Passan, here's a list of free agent that are still available at the positions metioned, and whether or not I believe that they'd fit well with the team.

Adrian Beltre, 3B - The skill is there with the bat.  The glove is nothing special.  He'll want a long term deal after his big year in Boston, and that would scare me off.  If he takes a year to be a stopgap and give Brett Lawrie a little more time, I'm all for it. Which he won't, so don't blow your cash.

Manny Ramirez, DH - Farrell likes him.  BBB seems to like him.  I don't.  He's aging, he's been linked to steroids, and he wouldn't fit well with the direction this team wants to take, which is building up players, not acquiring declining players who aren't going to be good when we are competing.  If he was in his prime I'd be all for it.  He's only getting worse, however, and this is one old horse we shouldn't be betting on.

Derrek Lee, 1B - OK bat.  Decent glove.  Good power.  Not bad.  But he'd just be a stopgap at first or the DH who sees some time on the bag.  I'd be OK with him on a two-year deal max.

Adam LaRoche, 1B - An upgrade over Lyle.  Again, two years max.

Jim Thome, DH - One of those guys who seems to defy age...unlike Manny, he hasn't been linked to steroids and he's known all around the league as a good clubhouse guy.  Like Manny, he couldn't really do anything other than DH.  I've had a soft spot for him for years, but I gotta say no.

Vladimir Guerrero, DH - Wouldn't that be ironic....the guy I watched hammer the Jays routinely while with the Expos come back and DH for us.  No likey though...he runs like my grandmother, and once he gets into a funk, he's got nothing.

Johnny Damon, OF/DH - He's not bad...I'm surprised he hasn't gotten a deal yet, to be honest.  I'd prefer it not be from us though.  He's got the power, he has some legs left so he could stick in a corner spot, I just have this nagging feeling he's going to break down this year.

Russell Branyan, 1B/DH - He turned 35 last week and is an injury risk.  Has some pop, but I'll pass, thanks.

Marcus Thames, OF - We already have a 4th outfielder in Davis.  Pass.  Although, if he hit a walkoff or two against the Yankees, that would be epic...

Brad Hawpe, OF - Early washout?  Seems that way...he's only 31.  AA's gone the low risk route before with guys like Morrow and Gonzalez, maybe Hawpe fits his mold?  I'd rather not take that particular chance, thanks.

Jorge Cantu, 3B/1B - Already discussed.  Consensus appeared to be no.  I'm wouldn't rule him out, myself.  He's 28, and has some ability.

Jim Edmonds, OF/DH - The Chris Chelios of baseball...or would be if it weren't for Jamie Moyer.  No thanks.

Nick Johnsno, DH - The typo was intentional.

Troy Glaus, 1B/DH - We tried that already...

Jerry Hairston, Jr., IF - He could play third.  Or we could save our money and put JonnyMac there...nevermind, he could play third.  Honestly, he's a career utility guy.  I'll pass.

Orlando Cabrera, IF - Let's all start drinking should this come to pass...

Andruw Jones, OF - Could play either corner, is still 33, and might come cheap.  If he meets that last one, give him a year or two.

Next up on the list was Felipe Lopez, so I figured that should indicate the level of talent left out there...it includes Eric Hinske and Reed Johnson.  

Conclusion- not a lot left out there.  I wouldn't mind Lee or LaRoche, and I won't be outright P.O.'d about Andruw Jones or Jorge Cantu. Other than that, steer clear of FAs.

Brandon Morrow is being shut down after his next start.  With him done, Litsch out, and Rzep being (in my mind) generally ineffective, I wonder what the rotation will look like heading into the end of the year.  Marcum, Romero, and Cecil will remain in the rotation for sure, but who will the other two guys be?  I present some names to you for discussion, with a little tiny blurb about why I believe they should or should not be in the rotation, or whether I am indifferent.

Marc Rzepczynski - currently in the rotation, but as I mentioned, generally ineffective.  I'm not into the in-depth sabermetrics, so I'll go with ERA and WHIP here: 6.31 and 1.64.  Lasted 5.2 and struck out 8 against Detroit, so maybe he's adjusting a little bit.  Then again, gave up four runs and five hits while walking five.

Brian Tallet - he's been in the rotation already, so I have to put him here.  Since mostly everyone here agrees he should be released or pitch only when well ahead/behind, I shall say no more.

Brad Mills - ERA doesn't give me confidence at 4.72 (5.28 at the MLB level), but he's been up in the big leagues already and it wouldn't surprise me to see him back up here again.

Robert Ray - currently the owner of a 5.03 ERA.  Even in Vegas, that's not a great sign.

Sean Henn - his other numbers make me wonder why his ERA is only 4.64. 

Other spare parts - this includes players like Zach Jackson and Lance Broadway, who are the definition of depth guys, but could at the least make a spot start or two.

Shawn Hill - has made ten starts in the various levels of the Jays' organization according to FanGraphs, but seems to have struggled a little in his four starts with Vegas: 1-2 with a 4.20 ERA while pitching a combined 15 innings through those four starts.  Wouldn't surprise me to see him up here, though.

Scott Richmond - could happen.  He's pitched well so far in his minor league assignments, but has yet to pitch above the AA level.

Kyle Drabek - won't happen.  From what I've seen, AA prefers to err on the side of caution, so he won't move Drabek up.  Ditto for Zach Stewart.

An ideal situation for me is to DFA Tallet and move Scrabble to the pen.  Marc's been getting shelled out there almost every time out, so an inning or two here and there is a little less for him to look at and figure out what he did right and what he can improve on.  More focus on a smaller sample size might equal a little more success for him.  In that situation, the other two starters would be Mills and Hill.  I like Richmond, but I don't think AA ball is really adequate prep for the majors, even if it's only for a month.

Of course, if we're really in need of pitchers against the Yankees, we could go get Andy Marte from Cleveland...I always love watching Nick Swisher strike out on three pitches.